Meeting Venue:
Committee Room 5
Meeting date: Thursday, 5 October 2023
Meeting time: 09.00 - 15.30
This meeting can
be viewed
on Senedd TV at:
http://senedd.tv/en/13514
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Category |
Names |
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Members of the Senedd: |
John Griffiths MS (Chair) Jayne Bryant MS Luke Fletcher MS Joel James MS Sam Rowlands MS |
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Witnesses: |
Jane Dodds MS Vikki Howells MS Altaf Hussain MS Sioned Williams MS Elaina Chamberlain, Welsh Government Gareth McMahon, Welsh Government Michael Kay, Welsh Government Sarah Wymer, Welsh Government Jane Hutt MS, Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip Stuart Evans, Welsh Government Amelia John, Welsh Government Ruth Meadows, Welsh Government Joanna Valentine, Welsh Government Lorna Hall, Deputy Director for Equality and Human Rights, Welsh Government |
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Committee Staff: |
Catherine Hunt (Clerk) Angharad Era (Deputy Clerk) Stephen Davies (Legal Adviser) Osian Bowyer (Researcher) Llinos Madeley (Clerk) |
1 Introductions, apologies, substitutions and declarations of interest
1.1 The Chair welcomed Members to the meeting of the Local Government and Housing Committee.
1.2 Apologies were received from Carolyn Thomas MS.
1.3 Vikki Howells MS substituted for Carolyn Thomas MS.
2 Papers to note
2.1 Letter from Finance Committee - Draft Budget 2024-25
2.1a The Committee noted the letter from the Finance Committee in relation to the draft budget 2024-25.
3 Motion under Standing Order 17.42(ix) to resolve to exclude the public from items 4, 5, 6, 7 and 10 of the meeting
3.1 The Committee agreed the motion.
4 Legislative scrutiny refresh
4.1 The Committee received a legislative scrutiny refresh training session.
5 Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill - technical briefing from Welsh Government officials
5.1 The Committee received a technical briefing from Welsh Government officials:
Michael Kay, Senior Responsible Officer for the Bill - Deputy Director, Elections Division
Elaina Chamberlain, Policy Lead, Head, Democracy, Diversity & Remuneration
Sarah Wymer, Bill Manager
Gareth McMahon, Senior Government Lawyer, Legal Services
6 Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill - Approach to scrutiny
6.1 The Committee considered and agreed its approach to scrutiny.
7 Local Authority Library and Leisure Services - consideration of the Welsh Government's response to the Committee's report
7.1 The Committee considered the Welsh Government response.
8 Housing Ukrainian Refugees - Evidence from the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip
8.1 The Committee received evidence from:
Jane Hutt, Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip
Ruth Meadows, Temporary Director for Ukraine response
Joanna Valentine, Deputy Director, Transitional Accommodation Division
The Minister agreed to provide additional information requested by the Committee:
· feedback on progress in relation to converting appropriate placements into commercial lodging arrangements, should thank you payments not be available in year 3;
· more details on analysis undertaken by the Welsh Government on the reasons for refusal of accommodation;
· details of the total costs paid to CTM, once all figures are reconciled;
· details of the Welsh Government’s ongoing work to analyse annual returns on the grant provided to local authorities and registered social landlords to provide homes (including modular accommodation) for those in housing need.
9 The provision of sites for Gypsy, Roma and Travellers - Evidence from the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip
9.1 The Committee received evidence from:
Jane Hutt, Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip
Stuart Evans, Head of Race; Faith and Belief; Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Policy
Amelia John, Interim Director - Communities & Tackling Poverty
Lorna Hall, Deputy Director for Equality and Human Rights
10 Evidence from the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip - consideration of evidence
10.1 The Committee discussed the evidence received and agreed to write to the Minister on a number of matters raised.
10.2 The Committee agreed to undertake further follow-up work on the provision of sites for Gypsy, Roma and Travellers.